India’s ODI vice-captain Rohit Sharma on Thursday said the World Cup squad was more or less settled but nobody should take his place for granted as poor form could lead to omissions. Sharma said there could be one or two changes in the squad, which will take on Australia and New Zealand in the upcoming ODI series, depending on poor form and injury in the coming months. “The squad that plays these 13 ODIs is more or less the one that will go to the World Cup. There will be one or two changes, keeping in mind the form and injury concerns over the next few months,” Sharma said ahead of India’s first ODI against Australia here on Saturday.

Talking about the slots in the playing eleven, he said, “...more or less, the slots are pretty much taken. Having said that, I feel everything will depend on the form of each player. Nobody is guaranteed that flight to England as yet.

“I would not say that every individual who’s part of the next few series would be playing the World Cup. You have got to perform. But there won’t be drastic changes,” said the stylish opener. The World Cup starts on May 30 in England. India last played ODIs in Australia in 2016, and lost the five-match series 1-4. Their top-order comprising Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli had excelled back then too, but the middle-order did not support them enough. “It’s not about one or two individuals, it’s about 11 of us contributing. Individuals may win one or two games but to win the championship, the batting unit needs to come together,” he said. “There will be times when your top-order fails and the middle-order has to take the responsibility. I think they have done that in the last few series we have played,” he added. — PTI

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